It’s now been a week since Glenn Beck’s 8-28 gathering at the Lincoln Memorial. The hubbub, vitriol, disbelief, accusations, and sludge have been slung. I am amazed at the amount of attention this simple gathering has gained. The political pundits have weighed in; the talking heads have spoken. I’m an unbiased third party. I wasn’t there, and I only tuned in to post-event coverage on all the major and non-major networks. What came to mind was a pack of pit bulls tearing apart a helpless baby.
I’ve read blogs where people questioned Beck’s political aspirations. There have been noises about him profiting from the event; that Fox News provided funding. There have been posts about how this was a Tea Party gathering, and how racist all the attendees are. Let’s also not forget the blasts likening Beck’s event to a revival and that right-wing Christians are going to go off-the-cliff militant and take over the country.
What was not discussed was the impetus of the entire day. Beck called his rally “8-28: Restoring Honor.”
I view Glenn Beck as an interesting television personality, in the same light as Rachel Maddow or Keith Olbermann. They bring whatever interests them to the fore. These three are not politicians or journalists, but are mirrors of different facets of society. I don’t know Glenn Beck and I don’t have a clue regarding any hidden agenda he might have for holding the rally. He might have intentions of selling more books or garnering more listeners or viewers or he might just want to take over the world. Let’s take a leap of faith and flip the coin to the other side. Let’s say that he is sincere and he honestly wants to see America restore honor. What is so wrong about that?
I guess according to the entire world, there is much evil in it.
Should we take the word apart? The first three definitions of “honor” according to dictionary.com is this:
1. honesty, fairness, or integrity in one's beliefs and actions: a man of honor.
2. a source of credit or distinction: to be an honor to one's family.
3. high respect, as for worth, merit, or rank: to be held in honor.
As a person who believes in a structure of ethics, I see nothing wrong with "honor" as a personality trait. In fact, I find it rather attractive. You see, I respect a lot of things, including integrity, hard work, and honesty. I’m no churchgoer, but I was raised Catholic. Even though it is politically incorrect and professionally suicidal to announce, I do believe in “God” or whatever you want to call the higher being. I’ve studied a few religions in my day, and most are set up so that the members strive to “good” behaviors and try to stay away from “bad.” The yin and yang of good versus evil is a common thread.
Article comments
1 - Jordan Richardson
Who exactly is the "helpless baby" in the analogy? And why shouldn't Glenn Beck be exposed to the same vitriol and mockery that he imposes on others?
You can damn sure bet the president would be mocked, too. He's been mocked for just about everything he's done, sometimes rightly so, so I'm not sure why you'd imagine he lives in some sort of iron cage free from ridicule. Beck's made his living out of mocking and accusing the president of everything from Nazism to socialism to racism, so there's a pretty significant example right there. An apt one, too, considering this article.
2 - zingzing
if this had anything to do with "restoring honor," then we'd be talking about something completely different. "restoring honor" is just a goddamn slogan. pathetic stuff.
3 - El Bicho
"The “news” media displayed a seamy underside to this rally without taking the man at his word."
Hard to take a man at his word when he has already confessed to lying during a speech at a rally about restoring honor.
"Would [President Obama's] intentions be raked over the coals? Would commentators mock him? Laugh? Question his past? Ridicule his attendees? Muse about how much money he’ll make?"
Are you joking? That happens on a daily basis no matter what he does. The same happened to Bush before him and Clinton before him, etc. If you really have to wonder, obviously aren't paying attention.
4 - jeannie danna
None of this is backed up by facts.
5 - handyguy
Breathtakingly naive article.
6 - Cindy
It is safe to say there is honor lacking in today’s...culture...What was considered outlandish and outside the envelope just a few short years ago is more than likely viewed as everyday and normal today.
Welcome to capitalism. Honor doesn't sell very well.
7 - Cindy
Freedom in a capitalistic society means just that...marketing to people's every outlandish whim, no matter how dishonorable or destructive. And where that doesn't work, fears of being abnormal can be created and then those can be market targets.
8 - Arch Conservative
Yeah I guess getting elected president, filling your cabinet with tax cheats and suing states for attempting to enforce laws on the books that the federal govt wont enforce is a much better example of honor than Glenn Beck.
9 - Jordan Richardson
I'd say neither are very good examples, Arch. Few American public figures should be leading such rallies.
10 - zingzing
arch, if you think that the bush cabinets weren't loaded with tax cheats, you are really, really naive. nearly everyone tries to cheat on their taxes... that's why we hire accountants. when cheating means more than a few hundred bucks here or there, the amount of cheating skyrockets. i'd bet if you seriously investigate the tax records of anyone in washington, you could find whatever you wanted to.
and glenn beck is an opportunist whore. if he was a honorable man, he wouldn't be who he is. he's out to make a buck. that's it. he's good at it. but "honorable," he is not. i bet at the end of the day, he walks home laughing at his audience. and rightly so. there's a sucker born every minute.
11 - Arch Conservative
Just like Pavlov's dogs......
Criticize Obama and you can be assured some moonbat will bring up Bush........
12 - handyguy
That anyone could take Beck seriously or take the title of his oddball religious rally literally is just...hard to believe.
13 - zingzing
alright, archie, how about EVERY GODDAMN CABINET? every one. go and look. do you doubt i'm wrong? i doubt you doubt it.
you ever cheat on your taxes? you hate them enough. evil things, aren't they? why not, eh? not even a little bit? c'mon.
but the "pavlov's dogs" reference was nice. kind of fitting, in its way.
but "moonbat" must go. it's no longer biting or funny. it just shows how long it takes your type to let go of something. very conservative, i'll grant you, but be a little creative with your "insults." otherwise, we'll just take it from you and slowly turn it into something you'll despise.
14 - zingzing
and when obama's 4 (or 8, or eternity, as ruvy will have it) years are up, will you never mention his name? or will become what you ridicule now? that is your fate. you know it. you're going to hate yourself. i speak prophecy! this is your future! 100% validity!
15 - Jon Sobel
Joanne, Beck has proved his utter disregard for anything that remotely fits my definition of "honor" (not to mention the dictionary definitions you quote) so many times that it's ludicrous. He's a hatemongering clown. By all means, let's talk about honor and "bringing it back" - although I would argue that we'd be yearning for some "good old days" that never existed. (And what people do in the privacy of their bedrooms has no place in such a discussion!) But let's use our own judgment, not that of charlatans and fools.
16 - Joanne Huspek
I totally agree with you Jon, on using your own judgment. In fact, I noted that at the end of my article. I'm not saying Beck or his followers are more honorable than anyone else, and I'm not urging anyone to follow him. Honor is a subjective quality and no proclamations by popular figures will instill it in anyone.
BTW, I put this under the "Culture" category because I think this subject has little to do with politics.
17 - Arch Conservative
Roughly half the country feels the way Obama that many of you are claiming to feel about Beck.
A jackass with absolutely no honor.
18 - Arch ConscienceStain
half the country feels the way...
More than half of the country believe in a little man up in the sky.
Somewhat less than that think that Obama isn't a citizen.
Some of them also think Obama is a Muslim.
And a socialist.
And he beats his wife.
In other words, they're a dumb as a box of hammers.
I must remember to stop hitting myself in the forehead with that rubber mallet.
19 - jeannie danna
Get the boots.
20 - jeannie danna
Here is Beck in action. Still think he's the *honor* bearer?
21 - El Bicho
sounds like Arch is projecting again
22 - zingzing
archie: "Roughly half the country feels the way Obama that many of you are claiming to feel about Beck."
criticize beck and you can damn sure archie will peak his head in the door and say something about obama.
23 - El Bicho
kinda like Pavlov's dog
24 - jeannie danna
IMO, Glenn Beck, is a pompous self absorbed wart on America's...
25 - Ruvy
Nice job, Joanne! I enjoyed the article, and see no reason to attack it as others have. When restoring honor is dishonorable, you may as well prepare for Armageddon. Considering that my own leaders have dishonored this country by kissing the butt of the Prince of Darkness in Washington, I am prepared for the War of Gog and Magog (Armageddon is too Christian a term for me). So you should be prepared for Armageddon in your land.
Mind you I do not like Glenn Beck. I do not trust Sarah Palin, even though she says all the right things (so far as I'm concerned).
But on principle, if you Americans can not see you need to restore your honor and honorability - prepare for a very violent future. You will have earned it.